So, is Welsh regional rugby a sinking ship or still afloat despite all the storms that have been raging against it? Warren Gatland claimed the holes had not been plugged, but Ospreys coach Toby Booth reckons there’s no need to abandon the vessel just yet.

France centre Jonathan Danty will miss the clash against Wales and the remainder of this season’s Six Nations Championship after receiving a five-week suspension on Tuesday, following his red card in their draw with Italy.

Toby Booth believes the Ospreys can do what no Welsh region has done for six years – make the United Rugby Championship play-offs. Booth’s young team are currently on target to achieve that goal of a top-eight finish.

France will come to Wales next week, having been rescued by a referee’s call for two successive Six Nations matches. They are a team relying on officialdom after Italy were left heartbroken last Sunday – denied a famous win, just like Scotland before them.

Wales forward Adam Beard has claimed Ireland were “flattered” by the 31-7 scoreline after their four-tries-to-one victoryat the weekend. Beard was reflecting on Wales’ third successive Six Nations defeat, which followed their narrow losses to Scotland and England.

Warren Gatland left Dublin banging the same drum he had struck after defeat to England – that this Wales team will have its day. The question for Wales supporters is how long in coming will that be? Gatland is convinced Wales are on course to become “an excellent team” despite a third successive defeat in another gloomy Guinness Six Nations campaign.

It has already been dubbed “Mission Impossible” but Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins insists he would not bother getting on the plane if he thought he could not be a winner in Ireland this weekend. The statistics alone make intimidating reading for Wales as they journey to Dublin for the third round of the Six Nations on Saturday.

Nick Tompkins insists Wales are not afraid of double Grand Slam-seeking Ireland. In fact, the Saracens centre is convinced Wales can go to the Aviva Stadium and “take a scalp” to get their Six Nations campaign back on track. After two agonising defeats to Scotland, by a point, and England, by two points at Twickenham, Tompkins believes the youngsters around him can step up to the plate and cause an upset.

Wales will relish the challenge of facing an Ireland side they haven’t beaten in Dublin in the Six Nations since 2012, according to Gareth Thomas. The Wales prop is preparing to go head-to head with Tadhg Furlong in a critical front row battle at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday against hosts who have won their last 10 Championship matches.

Wales skipper Dafydd Jenkins has already notched one win over an Irish side with Exeter Chiefs against Munster in the Champions Cup this season. Now he is eyeing up an even bigger upset than toppling the URC champions with his young Welsh side in Dublin in this weekend’s third round of the Six Nations.

Warren Gatland fears Welsh rugby is going to duck the essential changes he insists are needed to close the gulf between Wales and Ireland. The Wales coach says he is “not 100 per cent convinced” that regional rugby will undergo the proper reset he feels it requires. Gatland admitted “it has probably felt sometimes like you are in a sinking ship and you are trying to plug the holes a little bit”.

The size of the task facing Wales this weekend is illustrated by the statistics provided by the Guinness Six Nations official partners OPTA. When it comes to the tournament, Ireland have posted more wins than any other nation over the 26 years, have the highest win percentage and the second biggest points and try scorers.

Rob Howley knows a good scrum half when he sees one and he certainly likes what he’s seen from Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park. The New Zealand-born No 9 has become a lynchpin in the Irish side with his speed of pass, running game and tactical nous.

The play-offs are back within the sights of Pontypool after they defeated the side currently occupying fourth spot in the Indigo Premiership. Pooler’s timely 20-13 triumph over Cardiff at Pontypool Park completed a notable league double for Leighton Jones’ men over the Blue and Blacks to close the gap and reignite their hopes of finishing in the top four.

Rob Howley admits Wales must make life awkward for Ireland this weekend, otherwise the Six Nations favourites will find their groove and run riot. The Wales assistant coach believes unless his team ruffle Irish feathers from the opening whistle then any prospect of a shock away victory in Dublin is remote.

Paul O’Connell believes the legacy of influential former captain Johnny Sexton lives on among Ireland’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations squad. The reigning Grand Slam champions have made a strong start to the post-Sexton era by bouncing back from Rugby World Cup disappointment with successive championship wins over France and Italy.

Ospreys coach Toby Booth paid a glowing tribute to his match-winning “quarterback” Dan Edwards following the dramatic 19-17 victory over Ulster Rugby in Swansea. Fly-half Edwards landed a 30-metre drop goal in the 80th minute to snatch the spoils and was then engulfed by his delirious team-mates.

Keiron Assiratti wants to show Wales can add some bite to their bark in Dublin next week. So far, Wales have threatened but not delivered after two defeats in the opening rounds of the Six Nations. Now, Assiratti is ready for big dogs Ireland after time spent mulling over his future with his pet sausage dog, Pixie.

When Wales do their homework on new Irish outside half Jack Crowley they won’t have to look far for insight. Four years ago the Munster man steered the Ireland U20 team to a convincing 36-22 win over Wales in Cork, converting four of his side’s five tries and adding a penalty for good measure.

Lance Bradley is a man on a mission to usher in a successful new era for the Ospreys both on and off the field. The former Gloucester boss has only been in position as chief executive of the Welsh BKT United Rugby Championship outfit for some six weeks.